Time-controlled electric heater



J. A. OCA-BALDA. TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATiON FILED JUL Y 25,1919.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- IN VEN TOR. 6]: A Goa-B01022,

WITNESS:

A TTORNE Y.

J. A. OCA-BALDA. TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 25,1919.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IVITNESS: fz/ 5%- IN VENT OR. y 61:12 005QZ 'Q A TTORNE Y.

J. A. OCA-BALDA. TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25,1919.

' INVENTOR w mm L WITNESS:

BY fiaafi ATTORNEY.

ing a liquid UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Josie A. OCA-BALDA,

on NEW oama. Y.

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent. t t 3, 1 21,

Application filed. July 25, 1919. Serial No. 318,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jos A. OOA-BALDA, a citizen of Argentina, residing at'New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Electric Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a combination of intermittently actuated electric heating elements, for heatso confined that said liquid will maintain the temperature given it by the heating element for a long time and after the current has been temporarily broken whereby this combination will reduce the consumption of electrical energy.

The application of this combination is very broad and may include radiators, ovens, and all kinds of devices heated by electrical means.

In the present application we will describe fully the invention, and in order to show its advantages, we will show its application to a radiator or heater.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for alternately supplying current, to an electric element for a certain period of time, and then breaking the circuit for a certain period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically breaking the circuit if the controlling device should happen to cease to actuate with the circuit open.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the periods of time in which the circuit is on or oii.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a water heating device with means for cutting ofi the current if the water suppiy should become low.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a iron view or the case for containing the contri means.

Fig. 3 is a, detail sectional view of the cam controlling means.

Fig. 4. is a section on line ir-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 switch.

Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the radiator.

In these figures A indicates a case for containing the mechanism for controlling the current. This case is provided with terminals B, to be attached to the source of supply, and the terminals C to be attached to the device which is to receive the current. Within this case is mounted a rotary switch element 1 which is in the form of a wheel. This wheel is formed of insulatin and noninsulating or conducting materlal so arrangedthat aportion of its circumference will be formed of insulating material and the remainder of its circumference will be formed of conducting material. This wheel may be driven from any suitable source of power, such as clock mechanism or electric means. The conducting portion of the wheel is suitably connected with one of the terminals C, by means of the wire 2. The circumference of the wheel is engaged by a brush, which may be in the form of a small wheel 3, and this brush or wheel is connected by the wire 4: with one of the terminals B. A wire 10 connects the remaining terminals. A switch 11 is placed in the wire 10 and an indicator 12 is connected with the wire i. This indicator is shown as a small lamp, though it will be understood that any other form of indicator may be usedin series or in parallel orv in combination. It will thus be seen that, supposing the terminals are properly connected with the source and the electrical element, as the wheel 1 rotates, the non-insulated portion will be brought in en gagement with the brush 3 so that current will be supplied to the electrical element as long as said wheel 3 remains in contact with the conducting portion, but as soon as the insulated portion of the wheel engages the wheel 3 the current will be broken and will remain in this condition until the conduct ing portion again comes in engagement with the wheel 3. An oscillating armature 5 and its magnets 6 are in parallel with the casing circuitso that said armature 5 will be oscillated as the current passes through the circuit.

"if for any reason the wheel 1 should cease is a sectional view of the float to rotate and it should stop with the wheel 3 in engagement with the non-insulated porclutch 17 which is connected to the gear 15.

and to the cam by suitable shafts. Thus as the gear is rotated by the ratchet mechanism, and the clutch. is in engaging position, the cam will be moved against the action of the spring 18 until its broad part engages the spring plunger 19 and causes said plunger to open the switch 11 andithus break the c1rwit. The parts are so arranged that the switch will not be opened until the wheel 3 is at the end of the conducting portion of the wheel 1. In order to return the cam to its normal position I provide the magnets 20, the armature 21 of which is connectedwith the clutch 17 so that when said armature is attracted by the magnets the clutch will be moved into inoperative position and thus permit the spring 18 of the cam to return said cam to normal position. The magnets are connected with the wire 2 of the circuit'by the wire 22 and a second brush or wheel 23 is connected with the wire 4 and this wheel 23 is arranged to contact with the periphery of a small wheel 25 which is formed on or is connected with the wheel 1. This wheel 25 has most of its circumference formed of insulating material but a small portion of said circumference, shown at 26, is formed f non-insulating material and is connected with the magnets 20 so that when the wheel 23 contacts with said conducting portion, current will be supplied to the magnets and thus cause the armature to release the cam. In this way at each rotation of the wheels 1 and 25 the circuit to the electric element will be closed, the cam operated to open the switch 11 and then the wheel 3 will be brought into engagement with the insulated portion of the wheel. Shortly afterward the wheel 23 will be brought into contact with the non-insulated portion 26 and thus the cam will be returned to normal position. If the wheel 1 should stop with the wheel 3 in engagement with its non-insulatedportion, current would continue to flow through the circuit until the cam was operated to open the switch 11 and thus the circuit would be broken and would remain broken until the device wasattended to. V

The indicator 12 will tell whether the circuit is open or not.

- The means for adjusting the periods of time in which thecircuit is on and off comprises a slide 1 which is carried by the wheel 1 and is movably mounted .on said wheel. This slide carries a rack 1 which is engaged by a pinion 1", secured toa shaft 1.

This shaft is carried by a wheel 1 and passes through an annular slot (1, in the case A. On its outer end this shaft 1 is provided with a thumb wheel 1 provided with suitable indicia for cooperating with an indicator 1 carried by the wheel 1, and projecting through the slot a. By this means the slide, which is made of non-conducting material, may be moved more or less on the conducting part of the wheel 1 so as to limit the time of contact of this conducting part with the brush.

In order to adjust the operation of the cam 16 in accordance with the adjustment of the before mentioned slide, I provide an arcshaped part 16 on the edge of said cam and this part is adjusted by means of a small cam 16, which is mounted on a shaft 16*, which projects through a curved slot 16 in the case A and has its outer end provided with a mechanism may beset to open the switch at any desired time by the gears 29 actuated by the projecting part 30 which projects through the arc-shaped slot 31 formed in the case and cooperates with the indicia 32 to properly set the clock mechanism. If desired this clock mechanism may be arranged to close the circuit as well as to open the same. Such means is shown in Fig. 2 and is described in detail in an application filed by me on August 8, 1919, Serial'No. 316,191.

The terminals C are connected by the leads 33 with the heating devices 34: which are shown as located in the radiator 35 so that the water in the tubes of this radiator v will be heated when the current is on In order to prevent damage to the parts by the water level being lowered through evaporation or the like, I provide a float device for breaking the circuit when the water reaches a low level. This device con prises a float 36 to which is connected a contact 37 adapted to engage with one of the leads 33. When the radiator is full, the float will raise and force the contact against a movable contact 38 which is connected with the other lead 33. Thus the circuit to the heating elements will be closed. If the water level should drop the float would be lowered so that the two contacts would separate ahd thus break the circuit to the heating elements.

As the float lowers the contact thereon will complete the circuit to the leads 39 so that the current will pass into said leads 39 and through the magnets 40. These magnets will then attract the armature 41 so that the valve 42 will be raised and permit the water to flow into the tubes of the radiator, said valve being located in a pipe 43 which leads to a suitable source of supply.

As soon as the water level has reached its normal line the float will be raised and thus break the circuit to the leads 39 and renew the circuit to the heating elements.

If for any reason the valve should fail to'work or the water in the source of supply should fail, I provide means for cutting oif the current. magnets 44 located in the case A, and being provided with an oscillating armature 45, said armature and magnets being connected with the circuit and the leads 39 by the conductors 46. l he armature 45 is connected with a ratchet mechanism 47 and this mechanism operates an arm 48 to open a switch 49 in the conductor 4. In this way when the float is lowered the current will flow to the magnets 40 to open the Valves 42 and it will also flow through the magnets 44 and armature 45 to operate the ratchet mechanism 47 so that if the current should remain on for some time-the arm 48 will be raised and open the switch 49 and thus break the circuit. This ratchet mechanism is controlled by a pin 50 which passes through a curved slot 51 in the top of the case A.

I also provide means for preventing the water overflowing from the radiators. Such means comprises a float 52 in each tube of the radiator which will be raised by the water to close the upper end of the tubes. These floats are provided with safety valves 53 which lead to an outlet pipe 54. If this outlet pipe 54 should extend to a' point higher than the source of water supply the floats and valves would not be necessary.

I may provide switches in the circuits for cutting out the difl'erent parts and connect ing them with the other parts so that if anything should happen to one part it may be cut out of the circuit without rendering the entire device inactive.

The radiator is inclosed so that the heat imparted to the liquid by the heating coils will be held for some time after the circuit is broken.

The case A may contain brief instructions on its face for the operation of the mechanism.

In order to show the advantages of my application I will recite as examples ex- Suoh means consists of periments made with an electric heating apparatus with oil and with water.-

These experiments give the following results: A

Starting with the liquid cold five minutes were needed to boil it. At this moment current was cut off and the liquid kept its temperature during forty-five minutes in such a manner that it was impossible to maintain the hand in the electric heating apparatus without burning it.

Then the current was again turned on for two minutes and in this time the liquid was brought to the boiling point.

We may say then that in winter time when the temperature is very cold the apparatus may be regulated by giving it two minutes of current every thirty (30) minutes, that is to say, the current will flow for less than 2 hours in 24 hours and you have heat enough in this case if you use the device as a radiator.

It will be necessary to start the device with the current on a longer period of time in order to bring the temperature of the liquid from a low degree to a higher one but after this is done the period of time may be reduced as it is only necessary to keep the hot liquid at a high temperature. The means for this initial heating may consist of a single type of time controlled circuit breaker connecting terminals B and C and without passing the current through the other parts of the circuit. This time controlled circuit breaker will act only for five or ten minutes and after that will be cut oil 'all the time. This would be necessary if you use the automatic device for starting the current at any desired predetermined hour, but if not you can do this regulation by hand.

For instance when you'use the radiator' you give currentfor five minutes and as soon as the liquid reaches the temperature desired you adjust the device to give current for two minutes every thirty minutes.

As means and switches may be provided in order to use separately each'device or only the current of the line without them such as those described in the before mentioned application, if you are near the apparatus at the moment of starting you can adjust the device to give'current every two minutes in every 30 minutes after the apparatus has been supplied with current from the line long enough to bring the liquid to the boiling temperature.

The matter of adjusting the elapse of time in each case will be experimental because it will difler in each case. For example, when you need the device in an oven or chamber or in a radiator used for heating purposes it will depend upon the circumstances. For instance if you use the device for heating a room you are in diflerent air circumstances than if you use it for heating a chamber forming part of an air heating system where fans are used to distribute the heated air and where a constant current of more or less cold' air passes through the chamber. This latter case requires a more frequent flow of current 'in order to keep the liquid hot.

An important improvement in the heating system of a big building would be the use of this apparatus in chambers and using the own. system of circulating hot air, by means of fans, through all the compartments. and rooms.

In this case the heating elements would be placed inside of the chambers and the cabinet containing all the circuit controlling devices could be in the building.

Referring to the field of application of an electric heated device operated by alternating means we will show several examples.

In irons when the external temperature is about 70 F. only three minutes current is locatedin any desired place required to heat the body of the iron in such of water thereon will a manner that a dro boil immediately. orking under these conditions upon dry work after 15 minutes a drop of water thereon will boil but slowly, that 1s to say, the heat of the ironis useful during 15 minutes after the current is cut, ofi'. If under such conditions of heat we' turn on the current for one minute the iron will have full heat again. I

If we work upon very-"damp work the 'elapse of time of useful heat after the current has been cut off is about 10 minutes.

Therefore we find that on an average of circumstances irons may be provided with a very cheap alternative-device for supplying current for 2 minutes and cutting it off for 10,minutes. The same box shown in Fig. 2 but without the alarm device and without the means for adjusting the elapses of time can be used for this purpose.

If we consider an electric cooking unit as the ordinary'type in which the heating elements are between two sheets of metal, the

-- described combination of 2 minutes on and ing. to the purposes of provided.

If we use, for instance, a radiator containing liquid the radiator must be provided with a device which will be very different in the elapses of time in which the off are very differentcurrent is on and oil? than in the case of Of course if we make a box as-indicated at Fig. 2 with means for adjusting the elapses of-time that box could be used in all kinds of apparatus but ordinarily it will be more useful and convenient to provide each apparatus with a cord containlng the alternating means necessary to accomplish the special work which the to perform. I

From the point of'view of cheapness and simplicity this arrangement appears to be very useful, reliable and convenient.

If the body to be heated requires current for a long time, as would happen in radiators at the first heating, current may be taken from the line and then, as soon as the body is hot it can be connected with the alternating means which have been adjusted especially for the apparatus.- Thisis a matparticular device is designed ter of convenience coming within the main idea of the invention as explained in the present application. What claim is 1. An electric heating body" combined with a time controlled circuit controlling means for giving current a time in order to heat the body means for cutting off the current a certain period, of time while the body becomes slowly cold,

certain period of means for giving current again and so on in such a manner that .the' 'body will be heated while the current is on and theheat can be used during the elapses of time in which the current is ofl.-

2. A heating unit comprisin the combination of an electric heated bo y, time controlled mechanism for alternately turning on and cutting off the current 'at certain elapses of time, means for adjusting such mechanism according to the particular work lbs to be accomplished and insuch a manner that the alternatin means will give current to heat the body uring a certain elapse of time, after whlch the current .willbe turned ofi' while the body becomes slowly cold this lower temperature being limited by an elapse of time which is adjusted according to the rate of coolingof the-heated body in an avera e of circumstances.

' 3. The combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and'breaking the circuit, means for regulatlng the periods of time in which the current will fiow and be cut off, a radiator, heating elements therein and means for connecting the same Q with said device.

4. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately makin and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in Which the current will flow and be cut ofl", means for cutting off the current 1f the mechanism should stop with the current flowing, a radiator containing liquid, heating elements therein and means for connecting the same with the said device.

5. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the current will flow and be cut off, means for breaking the circuit if the mechanism should stop with the circuit in closed position, and means for adjusting the last mentioned-means in accordance with the regulating means for the make and break elements.

6. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the current will flow and be cut ed, a .radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator, means for connecting said elements with the time controlled device, means for supplying liquid to said radiator and means for breaking the circuit to the heating elements if the liquid level should become low in'the radiator.

7. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the current will flow and be cut off, a radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator, means for connecting said elements with the time controlled device, means for supplying liquid to said radiator, means for breaking the circuit to the heating elements if the liquid level should become low in the radiator, and means forautomatically opening the supply of liquid to the radiator when the level of liquid therein becomes low.

8. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the. current will flow and be cut ofl', a radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator, means for connecting said elements with the time controlled device, means for supplying liquid to said-radiator, means for breaking the circuit to the heating elements if the liquid level should become low in the radiator, means for automatically opening the supply of liquid to the radiator when the level of liquid therein becomes low, and. means for automatically breaking the circuit in the main line and rendering the mechanism inzfzctive if the source of liquid supply should 9. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, a radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator connected with said controlled device, means for automatically breaking the circuit to said elements if the liquid level should become low and at the same time renewing the supply of liquid, and valve means for preventing the overflowing of said liquid in the radiator.

10. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, a radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator connected withsaid device and means for automati= cally starting or stopping the flow of current at'any predetermined time.

11. In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, a radiator containing liquid, heating elements in said radiator connected with said device, and means for indicatingthe condition of the circuit at all times.

12. The combination with a source of electrical supply, an electrically actuated device, and the circuit connecting the two, of alternating means for automatically opening and closing said circuit, and means actuated by thev before mentioned means for breaking said circuit.

13,. The combination with a source 0 electrical supply, an electrically actuated device, and the circuit connecting the two, of means for automatically opening and closing said circuit, means actuated by the before mentioned means for breaking said circuit, and means for indicating the condition of the circuit.

and a circuit connecting the two, of means for alternately holding the circuit closed for a certain period of time and then holding it open for a certain period of time, and means for breaking the circuit if the before mentioned means should stop. with the circuit in closed position, said means including a cam, a switch in the circuit controlled by the cam, means actuated by the electrical current for moving said cam into operative position and magnetic means controlled by the alternating means for releasing the switch from the cam. f

16. A circuit controlling device comprising a rotatable element consisting of two being composed of insulated and non-insulated material, said non-insulated portions being connected with one portion of the circuit, a'brush engagingwitheach circumference, magnets electrically connected with the circuit, an oscillated armature, magnets for said armature electrically connected with the circuit, a ratchet mechanism operated circular portions, the circumference of each fingers from the cam, a spring for holding "the cam in inoperative position and a switch in the circuit actuated by said cam.

17 In combination with a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the current will flow and be cut oil, means for cutting oil the current if the mechanism should stop with the current flowing, a radiator-containing liquid, heating elements therein, means for connecting the same with the said device, a case containing said means remains outside of the case for actuating the regulating means and the adjusting means, such means including a pairof finger engaging means provided with indicating marks.

18. In combination with an electric heating body, of a time controlled device for alternately making and breaking the circuit 'thereto'so that the current will flow for a period of time @nd then be cut off for a period of time, means for regulating the periods of time in which the current will flow and be cut ofi', means for cutting ofi' the current if the mechanism should stop with the current on, and means foradjusting the last mentioned mechanism in accordance with the adjustment of the regulating means. 7

19. In combination with an electric heating body, of a time controlled device for alterna'tely making and breaking the circuit I 'thereto so that the current will flow for a periodof time and then iod of time, of time in which the current will flow and be out ofi, means for cutting ofl' the current if the mechanism should stop with the current on,'means for adjusting the last mentioned mechanism in accordance with the adjustment of the regulating means, and means for starting or stopping the flow of current at be cut off for a perany predetermined time. p I

20. A device of the class described commeans for regulating the periods prising a. casing, two pairs of terminals thereon, a circuit connected with the terminals, means within the casing for alternately making and breaking the"circuit, means for regulating the periods of time in which the circuit, is on and off, such means including a hand actuated member extending through the casing, means for automatically breaking the circuit if the alternating mechanism should stop with the circuit closed, means for regulating such automatic means in accordance with the'regulation of the alternating means, such means including a hand actuated member extending through the casing, a time controlled circult breaking mechanism, means for setting the same, including an arc-shaped slot, in the casing, indicating marks adjacent said slot, a hand operated device extending through said slot and means connecting such device with the setting means.

21. In combination with an electric heating body and its circuit, a time controlled mechanism connected with said circuit for alternately making andbreaking said circuit, means for regulating the elapses of time in which this mechanism operates and means for causing this mechanism to operate 'or .cease to operate at any predetermined time.

22. In combination with an electric heating body'and its circuit, a time"controlled mechanism for alternately making and breaking said circuit, means for regulating the elapses of time in which this mechanism actuates and'means for automatically starting or stopping the flow of the current to the said mechanism at any predetermined time.

23. In combination with a pair of conductors'of the ordinary type used in irons and electric heating apparatus, a box connected with any suitable part of the conductors, time controlled mechanism in the box for alternatively giving and cutting off the current in the'conductors including detachable connections for changing, repairing and overhauling the time controlled mechanism when desired.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSE A; OGA-BALDA. 

